Documentary distribution: your advice please

G

google groups

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Hi all,

I would be really grateful if I could have some advice from some older wiser heads please. I'm at a crossroads in terms of distribution and I am keen for your thoughts.

I have spent the last year attempting to distribute my first documentary. It was very low budget, filmed by volunteers, and the production values are very rough - but IMO the story is dramatic and intense and the film hits on some important cultural and political themes, and is likely to be of interest to educators. It is 100 mins. Yes I know that that is far from ideal for a doco.

In the last year I have entered the film into 50-60 film comps, and had mild success.I am on the shortlist or running to have the film appear on PBS as part of a series, and similarly to have the film appear in a box set. But this is faaar from assured, and I can't assume that it will happen. The license would be non-exclusive anyway.

I have posted the DVD to 10-15 sales agents/distributors with no success.

I am now at the point that I am running out of money and energy.

This is my plan of attack from here. Please let me know what you think:

1) *Do a final mail around to sales agents and distributors, especially those with an educational focus.
* Enter half a dozen more festivals - just those offering concrete outcomes.

2) Wait 6 weeks. If I have had no success, then submit the film to an online platform such as:

Koldcast
Distribber
Prescreen

3) Do some marketing for the film online and the media, and hope (like hell) that the film gets viewers and/or is picked up by a network.

What do people think? Brutal honesty is good. And much appreciated.
 
To add to that - I don't have a website either. And am hoping not to have to create one. But I'm not sure that I can get away with it...
 
Okay, post is a little confusing as I'm not sure if Google Groups is the poster or responder, or what? :)

1st, Website and Trailer are NEEDED to market this better to distributors. Get this together and work that route thoroughly and see where you get.

Get a one sheet going with your festival successes noted. Poster, etc.

I wouldn't be confident in marketing a movie to any distributors without these items. If anything, it helps THEM visualize how to SELL it themselves. Even if they ultimately change all the materials, with nothing it makes your job convincing a distributor that you have a PRODUCT (remember, that's what it is to them) that they can SELL.

Plus, you can market the film and sell units yourself as you build a buzz toward selling it to a distributor.

My advice.

-Martin
 
google groups said:
To add to that - I don't have a website either. And am hoping not to have to create one. But I'm not sure that I can get away with it...
Click to expand...

Why? Isn't this film important enough for you to make even a minimal effort to publicize it? If you can't show even that small level of commitment to your own film, how do you expect a distributor to want to expend any effort for it?

The website for your film is a central hub for your effort to publicize it for fans, announce screenings, sell it to distributors, maybe even sell DVDs or downloads directly (meaning you get to keep more of the profit from those sales).

It's not that expensive or hard to make a website. Most hosting packages will include software to manage mailing lists, blog, create RSS or twitter feeds, etc. You can get pretty good hosting for $50-$100/ year. You can find a cheap Wordpress or Joomla template & you've got a professional website. You could also have a Facebook page.
 
arniepix said:
Why? Isn't this film important enough for you to make even a minimal effort to publicize it? If you can't show even that small level of commitment to your own film, how do you expect a distributor to want to expend any effort for it?
Click to expand...


Very good questions. I'll give you a straight answer.

My film is controversial.
 
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google groups said:
Hi all,


This is my plan of attack from here. Please let me know what you think:

1) *Do a final mail around to sales agents and distributors, especially those with an educational focus.
* Enter half a dozen more festivals - just those offering concrete outcomes.

2) Wait 6 weeks. If I have had no success, then submit the film to an online platform such as:

Koldcast
Distribber
Prescreen

3) Do some marketing for the film online and the media, and hope (like hell) that the film gets viewers and/or is picked up by a network.

What do people think? Brutal honesty is good. And much appreciated.
Click to expand...

Anyone?
 
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